The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-22
"TOO LITTLE TO HIT"

Who are you!
.Dicky Wattles. Please let me come
in"
The answer to this pathetic appeal was
a burst of laughter. How could they
help it? Certainly anything more laugh
ter provoking than this tow headed,
freckle-faced little object, with its tear
stained cheeks and battered clothes was
rarely seen.
A party of blue.coated men, some of
them quite dazzling with gold lace and
glittering shoulder-straps, were gathered
under the hospitable canvas OF Captain
Dudley. The conversation over the
prospects OF battle bad languished, and
several of the party were yawning amid
the silence, when one of them called out,
What's that?"
At first it looked like mass of tow
thrust in by some one through an open
ing in the tent. 1t proved, however, to
be the head of small boy.
When the owner was inquired OF as to
the object of his visit, he answered with
the sad appeal just quoted.
"No; 60 away" was the answer from
one OF the blue-coats.
"No room for such rubbish" came
from another.
This provoked second burst OF laugh
ter, which had scarcely died away when
the sound of prologed sob was heard.
There! you've set the youngster to
bswling." This came from Captain Dud-
ley himself; and, as he said it, he rose
and walked to the door of the tent.
"Come back, you, and show yourself"
The boy was only too glad to respond
to the appeal. With his head hanging
down on his breast and a slouching gait,
he entered the tent.
All hands began at once to tease him.
who's your tailor. young MANI"
"And your barber?"
"Stop crying and sing us song. You
ought to know "Way Down South in
Dixie pretty well. That's your native
country, isn't it2"
"Let him alone, boys" interrupted
Captain Dudley. The poor little
wretch is in trouble Come here, young
man."
Dicky Wattles rushed to his protect
or's eide, and looked at him with won
dering air.
very few minutes sufficed to draw
the boys story from him. He had run
away from his miserable home, deter
mined to get with the army. He had
seen regiment pass his door once. The
thrilling sound of martial music, the
tramp of the horses, the glittering uni
forms of the men, had excited his imagi-
nation. Where these people were. heaven
must be. From that time he had but
one object in life; and that was to find
the camp and remain in it.
But what a miserable little specimen
he, wasl What could be done with him?
Nothing, apparently. At least, no one
tried to do anything. And SO Dicky
hung round the camp. How he lived no
one knew. Sometimes bits Of food we're
flung to him; and these he eagerly de-
vonred. His clothes grew older and
more tattered; but the weather was warm
and this did not disturb him.
But, miserable as his life seemed,
Dicky had an object in it. That was to
keep as close as possible to Captain Dud-
ley. 1t was Dudley that had befriended
him from the first instance; and, while he
took no special trouble in regard to the
boy, he now and then did him kind
ness. On one occasion, a generous slice
of pudding from the captains table found
it's way to Dicks grimy paws; aud in one
supreme moment Dudley actually patted
him on the head and thanked him for
some trihng service.
Usually Dicky was promptly ordered
ont OF the way by the captains body SER
want; but occasionally rare bits OF hap
piness came to him. Once he found a
pocket book that the captain had lost,
and received warm praises for his hon
esty, Once he was sent on quite an i'm
portant errand, and after no little fatigue
anu udbk0l uSlANOAOO eAAO oANAOACo S"ASAJ
into the captains hands.
The day finally came when the army
was no longer quiet. There was great
hustle of preparations going forward. A
forced march had been ordered; and the
brigade was to move on to point some
twenty miles AWAY, where battle was
expected. Dicky was overwhelmed with
what he saw going on about him. The
experiences were all new. Now there
was work even for him. He ran here
and there, sent on errands by everybody;
and once he was even spoken to by Cap
tain Dudley himself.
When the regiment began to move
Dieky followed close behind. He ran
and walked until his little legs ached I'M
der him, and he grew faint with the heat
Bat he saw it all. He saw the troops